The 70% Rule: When to Hit Apply (and When to Walk Away)
How to land your dream career change, even if you don't have all the experience.
Is a lack of experience holding you back from your dream career change?
Tom here…
I was extremely proud when I first became a Retail Store Manager in 2012.
I’d spent years trying to get on Store Manager development programs.
Always close. But never quite making it.
Until I jumped through enough hoops.
And I finally made the cut.
After a few months of training, I got my first store.
A ridiculously busy location next to a train station in North London.
I’m a Tottenham Hotspur fan (soccer for my US followers).
And I was deep in Arsenal territory—Finsbury Park.
I did quite enjoy the fans pilling in after they lost.
But that didn’t happen enough for my liking! ha.
Anyway…
When I took over my store.
I was excited.
Proud.
And absolutely terrified!
Because as much as I’d fought for this role…
I was still new.
Still learning.
And here’s the thing.
When you start ANY new role, you’re never fully ready or qualified.
It takes months to develop all the skills.
To gain confidence.
To feel like you know what you’re doing.
I’d say most people are about 70% ready when they start.
Think back to when you first stepped into your current role.
Were you 100% ready?
Or did you figure it out as you went along? Did you learn on the job?
This is where so many retail managers go wrong with career changes.
They assume every other industry is different.
That if they don’t have 100% of the experience on paper…
They don’t stand a chance.
But that’s not how hiring works.
No one steps into a new job fully qualified.
So if you’re reading job descriptions…
And you’re second-guessing yourself…
Stop looking for a 100% match.
If there were people out there 100% qualified/experienced.
They’d already be doing the job.
And no one in the world would have ever changed careers before.
But we know it happens every single day.
If you match the job description 70% or more…
You’re a great fit.
And you should absolutely apply.
If you match 70% or more, you’ve got a real shot.
Enough transferable skills to land the job.
But different enough to be a true career change.
So don’t let doubt hold you back.
But If the problem is finding career options...
Ones where you match 70% or more…
I just put together a short masterclass on how to find high-paying career ideas for retail managers.
Along with the top 10 careers I’ve seen and helped Retail Managers transition into.
Careers that match your extremely desirable retail skills.
But in industries offering Mon-Fri, 9-5 with the salaries to boot.
You can get the masterclass here…
===> High-paying career moves for retail managers
Cheering you on,
Tom